AFTER 3 YEARS APRC REACHES CONSENSUS WITHOUT TNA!!!

Devolution: APRC reaches consensus


By Sandun A Jayasekera

After nearly three years of talks, the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) has reached a consensus with regard to power devolution between the Centre and the nine provinces, Chairman and Minister Tissa Vitharana said yesterday.

“We are drafting a document for perusal by the main opposition UNP for any inputs, before presenting it to President Mahinda Rajapaksa,” Professor Vitharana said.

He told Daily Mirror key proposals on power devolution were discussed in detail and in-depth in a spirit of cordiality before arriving at a consensus on clearly defined areas for each level of government.

Prof. Vitharana said he expected the APRC proposals to meet the aspirations of the minority communities without prejudice to the majority community.

He said there would be no concurrent list with powers between the province and the Centre clearly defined and demarcated.

“The provinces will be ensured of no interference by the centre. The government will set up a second chamber –an Upper House – comprising of eight representatives from each of the provinces. They will as a safeguard ensure that no legislation seeking to take away devolved powers is enacted. Any such legislation has to be passed at a joint parliamentary sitting, Professor Vitharana said adding that the Local Government, the Village Committee system would be restored.

He said the provincial administration was seriously handicapped by the failure to fully implement the devolved powers under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

“I am happy the APRC, after taking the various issues into consideration has worked out a set of proposals to rectify the present drawbacks,” Prof. Vitarana said.

But he said the success of working out a political solution, which fulfills the aspirations of the Tamil community would depend on the inputs of the two major political parties -- the SLFP and the UNP.
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